Apparatus for dispensing stacked sheet material



T. J. DURKSEN APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING STACKED SHEET MATERIAL I Feb. 9,1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 4. 1950 z? H w I m w E I T2.

U a I n J m h 2 6 u 6 a Feb. 9, 1954 DURKSEN 2,668,704

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING STACKED SHEET MATERIAL Filed Feb. 4, 1950 3Sheets-Sheet 2 I VEN TOR.

I 7 000/25 J DUE/(SEN :EIE-r 4: BY

1954 T. J. DURKSEN 2,668,704

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING STACKED SHEET MATERIAL Filed Feb. 4. 1950 sSheets-Sheet s :EIE 5 INVENTOR. 72/5000EE J. fluekse/v Patented Feb. 9,1954 OFFICE APPARATUSS FOR- DISPENSING STACKED HEET MATERIAL Theodore J.Durksen, Oakland, Calif.

Application February 4, 1950, Serial No. 142,416

7' Claims. (01. 270-54) This invention relates to apparatus for thelateral displacement feeding of successive units of sheet material. froma supply stack and preferably from the bottom of the latter.

An object of the invention is to provide feed mechanism particularlyadapted to the dispensing of singly or multiply folded sheets ofmaterial.

Another object of the invention is to provide in combination with apreferably continuously moving takeaway conveyor, dispensing apparatusof the character described which is capable of opening and deliveringunits of stacked and folded sheet material in prescribed sequence to theconveyor so that the said units are arranged in uniformly spacedrelation on the conveyor.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved underfeedapparatus for stacked sheet material which is positive in its grippingof the successive sheets and which is arranged for activation anddeactivation instantaneously at precise operational intervals so as toaccurately ad vance and deliver successive sheets to the take awayconveyor.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of theclass described which is capable, by positional adjustment, ofselectively compensating for increased feed resistance which occurs whensheets of rough or unglazed' surface texture are being handled or whichis occasioned by supply stacks of abnormal height.

Yet another object of the invention is to pro-' vide, in apparatus ofthe character referred to, improved suction gripper means associatedwith the feed mechanism of the apparatus which, While being capable oftenacious adherence to a sheet of material being fed will not so deformportions of the latter as to leave permanently perceptible indentationstherein.

It is another object of the invention, in mechanism including acyclically movable suction gripper which is controlled by valving meansto engage and release individual units of sheet material in a supplystack thereof so as to transport successive of said units from the stackto relatively spaced receiving means, to provide for positionaladjustment between the supply stack and receiving means and to maintainoperational synchronism between the gripper and its valving meansregardless of variations in the degree of spacing between the supplystack and receiving means.

It i an additional object of the invention to provide, in apparatus ofthe class described, improved compound valve control means for estab-Iii 2 lishing and releasing suction in the type of gripper mechanismabove referred to.

An important object of the invention is to provide, in mechanismutilizing a movable gripper element whose gripping action is effected bysuction powered means, a safety control device capable of detecting thepresence or absence of a paper sheet in possession of the gripperelement so as to permit, in the former case, repeated movements of thegripper element in feeding sheets from a supply stack to a receivingmeans and, in the second case, to stop movements of the gripper element.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in suctionactuated mechanism including a movable gripper head for feedingsuccessive sheets of material from a vertical stack, improvedconstruction for said grippjer head whereby suction adhesion between thelatter and each sheet of material is effected in a plurality of closelyadjacent areas of the sheet rather than in a single larger area so as toenhance the gripping action of the head with the sheet material.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of the invention which is illustratedin the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. Itis to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by thesaid drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of portion of a signature gathering machineshowing the improved feeding mechanism of my invention associatedtherewith.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane indicated bythe line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the stack supportpositioned to lessen stack weight on the lowermost signature adjacentthe pick-up point thereof by the suction grip of the rotor.

Figure t is a view for the most part diagrammatic in character showingthe fluid and electric circuits interconnecting the rotor, its drivemotor and the mis-feed safety device.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken in th planeindicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane indicated bythe line 6-45 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane indicated bythe line 'i--l of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an enlarged side elevational view of the vent and safetyunit shown on the upper end of the drive shaft of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a rear end elevational view of the structure illustrated inFigure 8 showing the misfeed detector switch in normal operatingcondition permitting uninterrupted successive feeding of signatures fromthe stack thereof.

Figure lO is a view similar to Figure 9 showing the operative positionsof the mis-feed detector switch in the event that the suction gripperfails to establish proper cohesive engagement with a signature.

Gathering machines used in book binderies comprise hopper or the likestorage units in which singly or multiply folded printed sheetscomprising the signatures may be placed to be fed there- IE! to providea lateral opening 27 extending across the front of the hopper. One ofthe bars 26, preferably the centermost one thereof, is provided 7 with acontiguously disposed vertical gauging bar from and draped over amovable saddle-member we or conveyor in proper 7 sequence to form unitgroups of the signatures, the groups being thereafter stapled orotherwise bound together to form books or pamphlets. The machines ofthis character which have been previously available commercially havebeen rather complicated structurally so that the average small binderycannot economically acquire them and the complex mechanisms for feeding,opening and delivering the signatures to the gathering conveyor so retarmovement of the signatures from initial to final position that ultimateproduction speed is not realized. I have provided an improved feederwhich not only unfailingly delivers signatures to a gathering conveyoror the like along a travel path of minimum length so that maximumproduction speed may be effected, which also simultaneously opens eachsignature by a novel operational procedure and which further functionsto immediately stop the machine should the feeding device fail for anyreason to properly deliver a signature in proper sequence to thegathering conveyor. In the form in which I have chosen to illustrate theinvention, the members H represent a frame or other support structurewhich extend downwardly to engage a shop floor or other base member notshown. Journaled in suitable brackets is rising from the frame members His an axially horizontal tubular suction header and drive shaft is onwhich is secured a plurality of axially spaced cylindriform rotors l4each of which has a peripheral face width slightly in excess of themaximum width of signature to be fed. Only one rotor and feed unit isshown herein since all are duplicates of each other and the number offeeder units used in a complete machine depends on the size of thecompiled book or pamphlet and the number of separate signatures whichmake up the latter.

Disposed above the rotor is is a hopper comprising arm members [6journaled at their lower ends on the drive shaft i3 and carrying attheir upper ends rectangularly extending base bars 11 to the inner andouter portions of which are secured cross bars I8 forming supports forthe hopper bottom straps l9 which, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3 havetheir upper surfaces disposed substantially tangent with the peripheryof the rotor M, the centermost strap 19 approaching and terminatingshort of the rotor periphery in a knife edge 2|. Secured to and risingfrom the base bars i"! at opposite corners of the frontal edge of thehopper bottom adjacent to and above the rotor I4 are post members 22preferably constructed of angle bar or other light weight structuralshape, which are joined at their upper and lower end portions bypreferably tubular cross 28 having a horizontal flange 29 at its upperend which is threadedly engaged with an adjusting screw 3| carried by abracket 32 fixed to the adjacent bar 25 and having a bevelled lower endsurface 33 facing the interior of the hopper. A coil spring 34 isinterposed between the bracket 32 and the flange 29 and the gauging bar28 is thus mounted to be adjustably vertically positioned so as toprovide a feed gap 36 of selectively variable dimension between thelower end of the gauging bar and the subjacent peripheral surface of therotor It. The rear of the hopper is formed by a pair of verticallydisposed angle bars 3'5 substantially rearwardly aligned with the cornerposts .22 and carried by base members 38 preferably provided with slots39- for receiving mounting bolts or screws 4| engaged in suitableapertures 42 formed in the underlying bottom straps l9. Others of thebottom straps may be provided with snnilar apertures 43 so that thepositions of the angle bars 31 may be selectively varied if desired. Therecessed portions of the angle bars 31 are arranged to face each otherand the hopper front wall to form a pocket for the reception of a stack44 of signatures or other sheet members to be dispensed. Usually thesesignatures are singly or multiply folded sheets and are arranged instack 44 so that their cut or free edges face and abut against the frontwall member of the hopper, the feed gap 36 being sized so that only thefolded sheet comprising a single signature may pass between the lowerend of the gauging bar 28 and the periphery of the rotor l4. To effectrelative separation of the signature sheets if the latter have atendency of adhering a continuous blast of air may be dirooted at andbetween the sheets from a jet orifice 46 formed in the bottom end of thepipe 41, which is carried by and vertically adjustable in a bracket 48mounted on the hopper front and which is connected by a flexible conduitas or the like with a nipple 5| extending from a side of the uppercompressed air supply duct 23.

Means are provided for revolving the rotor l4 and for effecting grippingthereby of successive lowermost signatures of the stack so as to feedsaid signatures in measured sequence from the hopper. As will be bestseen in Figures 5 and 6, the tubular drive shaft i 3 in the hub 52 ofthe rotor is provided with at least one and preferably two radialapertures 53 opening into passages 54 drilled radially of the hub andcommunicating with ends of tubular conduits 56 extending outwardlythrough the rim 5'! of the rotor and opening into the bottoms ofpreferably a plurality of parallelly adjacent grooves 58 extendingaxially across the periphery of the rotor and terminating short of theperipheral side edges thereof. In the hub 52 is drilled a cylindricalrecess 59. in which is slidable a cylindrical valve plunger 6! extendingat one end beyond an end of the hired to one endof an arm 68 attached toand projecting downwardly from the hopper superstructure. The valveplunger BI is formed inter mediate its ends with a peripheral groove 63having a transaxial face id at one side thereof which cooperates withthe inner end surface 66 of the plunger to divide the latter intoseparate valve elements movable across the passages 54 to shut off theconduits 55 from the drive shaft or suction header l3 or to establishcommunication therebetween. A coil spring 6'! interposed between theextreme inner end of the valve plunger and the bottom of the recess 53normally urges the plunger into engagement with the face of the cam 62.

As here shown, the drive shaft is is provided at one end with a rotaryseal coupling t8 connecting the former with a stationary conduit Billeading to a suitable suction pump not shown and the shaft is furtherfitted with a drive pulley ll engaged with a belt "E2 or equivalentmeans operatively connected with the pulley E3 of an electric motor 5 5deriving energization from current mains it at least one of which iscapable of control by an electro-magnetic relay ll of the type in whichthe control contacts are closed when the relay is deenergized. Thearrangement of the parts so far described is such that as the rotor I4is revolved by its drive means, the peripheral grooves 58 comprising thesuction gripper will be carried cyclically under and forwardly past thefree or cut edges of the signatures of the stack. During such movementof the rotor the valve plunger iii of Figure 5 will be held by the cam62 toward the right hand end of the recess 59 so as to shut off theconduits 5% from the suction header It. However as the suction grippergrooves 58 arrive under the forward edge of the lowermost signature thevalve plunger will be permitted by the cam to move to its position shownin Figure 5 thereby admittin suction pressure to the grooves 58 andcausing the aforesaid lowermost signature to adhere to the surface ofthe rotor. At this point it will be noted that it is preferred that thesuction gripper comprise more than one parallel groove, as shown inFigure 6, for the reason that the signature sheet is thus caused to bedeflected in a plurality of adjacent areas into the smaller groovesrather than being given a single deeper deflection into a wider groove.In this manner the grip-per will cling to signature sheet with greatertenacity and the chances of permanently marking the gripper sheets aresubstantially eliminated. As the rotor continues its movement inpossession of the signature, the latter will be drawn through the feedgap 35 and upon emerging the sheets will encounter the blast from theair jet 56 so that while the lower sheet is carried downwardly in anarcuate path of movement by the rotor the upper sheet will progressgenerally horizontally outwardly from the hopper as shown by the dottedlines of Figure 2 until the signature has been fully withdrawn from thehopper and suction at the gripper grooves 58 has been released therebyreleasing the signature from the rotor.

The released and opened signature is now delivered preferably gravitallyto suitable takeaway conveyor means and is advanced by the latter to thenext hopper of the gathering machine where a succeeding signature isdelivered to the one already on the conveyor and so on until thecomplete book or pamphlet has been assembled after which the groups ofsignatures are passed through suitable stapling or other binding meanswhich secure the groups together as integral units. One of the mostwidely used conveyors employed for receiving and transporting thesignature groups is shown in Figures 1 and 2 wherein it will be seenadjustable brackets 18 secured to and extending from the support llcarry at their outer ends an elongated planar vertical plate E9 to whichis attached by outwardly extending cross members 8! a substantiallysimilar vertically inclined plate 82 spaced at its upper edge from theplate 19 to provide an elongated gap 83 through which may project theupwardly extending fingers 85 carried by and at spaced intervals along aconveyor chain 86 which runs along a guide rail 8'! carried by a crossmember SI and movable by suitable drive means familiar to those skilledin the art. The relatively inclined plates '19 and 82 form an elongatedsaddle extending across the fronts of all of the signature feed unitsused in the gathering machine and the fingers 8d are spaced apartequivalent to the spacing between adjacent feed units, the speed of thechain 86 being such that the latter advances a distance equal to theinter-unit spacing every time that the rotors l4 complete a cycle ofrotation.

It will be noted that if the plunger valve BI is permitted to close,prior to releasing the signature from the rotary suctiongripper, whilefull suction pressure exists in the suction header it, reduced pressuremay be trapped in the conduits 55 and rotor grooves 58 with the resultthat the hold of the gripper on the signature will not be relinquishedand the latter may be carried too far around the rotor and possiblydamaged. Means is therefore provided for insuring that the suctionpressure at the gripper grooves i not in excess of that at which thesignatures will be easily released from the rotors. As is best shown inFigures 8 and 9, the end of the tubular drive shaft or suction header I3is journaled in a relief valve block 88 carried by a hopper frame memberI! which has a chamber 89 therein into which enters a duct SIcommunicating with the suction header and an oppositely disposedaperture 92 for venting the chamber 89 to the atmosphere. A flap valve93, overlying and normally closing the aperture 92, is provided at itsupper end with a flange 94 seated in a groove 936 formed in th block 88so as to form a pivotal mounting for the flap valve and a spring d'i'interposed between the head of a stud 9B and the adjacent flap valveserves to resiliently retain the valve in closed position. Secured toand extending laterally from a side of the flap valve and capable ofbeing cyclically engaged by a cam 99 secured to and rotatable with thedrive shaft or suction header i3 is 2. lug ldi so arranged, as shown bythe dotted lines of Figure 9, that when engaged by the cam 99 the valveQ3 will open to uncover the aperture 92. The arrangement and timing ofthe cooperative parts is such that the apertur '92 will be opened justprior to closing of the conduits 56 by the valve plunger 3! with theresult that suction pressure in the header l3 and conduits 55 will dropto a point where the weight or" the signature is sufficient to releasethe latter from the rotor suction gripper. As soon as the signature isreleased, the flap valve and plunger valve will close thus permittingsuction pressure to again build up in the suction header to take care ofthe next cycle of operation of the feeder.

Due to the wide variation in surface finish of :the paper which may beused in the signatures,

tions while for rougher papers having higher frictional characteristicsthe hopper is tilted rearwardly away from the takeaway conveyor. Suchtilting movement of the hopper is permissible due to the fact that thearm members It on which the hopper superstructure i carried arejournaled on the drive shaft I3 as is the cam 62, and means are providedfor limiting such tilting in one or more arm members I92 secured bypivot pins I03 or the like to the support I I and having elongated slotsIE4 at their other ends engaged by suitable clamp screws I 05 mounted ina convenient portion of the hopper superstructure. Preferably the lowerends of the arms I5 are formed with inclined surfaces IIJI capable ofengaging stop blocks I38 secured to the support II so as to limit theforward tilting range of the hopper. It will be seen that when thehopper is tilted forwardly a shown in Figure 2, the center of gravity ofthe signature stack will lie more directly above the feed gap 36 and thepoint of engagement of the signatures with the rotor I4 and consequentlyth greater part of the signature will be required to pass through thispressure area in its feeding movement. If the paper is of such qualitythat ready slippage cannot occur between adjacent signatures diflicultyin feeding may be encountered such as failure of the rotor to properlygrip the lowermost signature or the bottom sheet of the signature may becaused to lead the upper sheet in its feeding movement thereby rumpling.the signature or causing failure in delivery of the latter to thetakeaway conveyor. As the hopper is tilted further rearwardly the weightcenter is retracted backwardly of the stack with the result thatimproper feeding conditions may be overcome and successful handling ofeven very rough-textured paper may be realized.

The value of a gathering machine depend in great measure on its abilityto unfailingly deliver signatures to each group thereof beingaccumulated on the takeaway conveyor so that all groups will contain afull complement of signatures when finally bound together. It is quitepossible, unless continuous vigilance is exercised, that in a gatheringmachine containing a large number of signature feed units, accidentalmisfeeding of a signature or unnoticed depletion of a signature supplystack in the hopper of a unit may cause one or more of the signaturegroups to pass into the binder unit in incomplete form. I have providedsimple and efficient means for instantaneously stopping the gatheringmachine in the event of a failure of a feed unit to deliver a signatureso as to preclude the possibility of passing an incomplete group ofsignatures to the binding unit. Referring again to Figures 8, 9 and 10it will be seen that a passage I09 is provided in the valve block 88opening at its lower end into the chamber 89 and connected at its upperend to a conduit II I or its equivalent which leads into a controlcylinder H2 whose lower end is closed by a plug member II3 havinga guidebore H4 extending axially thereof and entering into and in concentricrelation with the cylinder II2. A piston rod II 6 slidable in the guidebore II4 carries a piston II! at one end which is snugly slidable in thecylinder and is provided at its opposite or lower end with nut membersII8 by means of which the effective length of the piston rod may bevaried and forming means for engaging one end of a coil spring II9 whoseother end bears against the plug member I I3 to normally urge the pistonrod toward the lower limit of its travel.

Secured to and extending from a side of the valve block 88 is a bracketI 2I carrying a stud I22 to which is attached a pair of separateflexible switch arms I23 and I 24 relatively electrically insulated bynon-conducting washer and spacer elements I26 and I27 and carryingcontacts I23 at their free ends. The said free ends of the arms I23 andI24 are disposed between the lower end of the piston rod H6 and thesubjacent path of movement of the cam 99 the upper arm I23 beingengageable by the piston rod and the lower arm I24 being cyclicallyengageable by the cam in the latters rotational movement. The upper armI23 possesses an upward bias so that when the piston rod is positionedat its upper limit of travel as shown in Figure 9 the contact I28 of theupper arm will be held out of engagement with the contact of the lowerarm I24 even at the point of greatest upward throw of the cam 99. Eacharm I23 and I24 is provided with a terminal I29 one of which isconnected by a lead I3I, as shown in Figure 4, with a current lead I6,the other terminal being connected by a lead I32 with the actuating coilI33 of the relay I1. Current is supplied to the actuating coil I33through a lead I34 interconnecting the coil and another of the currentleads I6.

Under normal operating conditions when full and proper suction pressureexists in the suction header I3 the piston II'I will be drawn and. heldagainst the upper end of the cylinder II2. This will allow the upperswitch arm I23 to remain fully upwardly flexed so that the lower contactI 28, in its cyclic elevations and descensions every time that the cam99 moves under the lower arm I24, will not reach and engage the uppercontact thus permitting the relay 1! to remain closed and to effectcontinued running of the motor I4. In the event that a signature shouldfail to feed from a hopper or if the supply in one or more hoppersshould become exhausted, the increase in pressure toward atmosphericwhich will occur in the suction header I3 due to the one or moreuncovered sets of suction gripper grooves 58 of the rotors will causethe piston I I! to descend somewhat in the cylinder I I2 so that theupper switch contact I28 is lowered to a point where it may be engagedby the lower contact I28 during the current cycle of rotation of thedrive shaft and cam 99. This will permit completion of the circuit tothe relay actuating coil I33 thus immediately opening the relay andstopping the drive motor I4. The arrangement is such that stoppage ofthe rotors I4 will occur in the movement thereof between positionswherein the signatures are gripped and released so that the operatorwill be immediately aware of which hopper the misfeed has occurred in orwhich hopper has exhausted its supply of signatures.

From the foregoing description of my invention it will be seen that Ihave provided mechanism of greatly simplified form over the structuresof existing machines of this general char aeter. which is capable ofunfailingly delivering signatures at each cycle of operation, which iscapable of being, rapidly and easily adjusted to accommodate signaturesof various sizes and surface textures and which is capable of increasedproduction speed due to the exceptionally short travel path which istraversed. by the signatures their movement between the dispensinghoppers and thet takeaway conveyor.

I claim:

1. In a gathering machine including support means fora stack. ofmulti-sheet signatures to be dispensed cut edge foremost in a directionlaterally of the stack and subjacently spaced conveyor means movablepast and for receiving a file of relatively spaced signatures dispensedfrom said stack, a cylindriform' rotor journaled in axial parallelismwith said conveyor and having a peripheral portion disposed in proximityto the bottom sheet of the lowermost signature of said. stack, suctiongripper means in said peripheral portion of the rotor, means forrevolving said. rotor in timed relation with movements of said conveyormeans to move said suction gripper means below said lowermost signatureand toward said conveyor means, a suction header connected wtih a sourceof sub-atmospheric pres sure, a conduit interconnecting said suctionheader and suction gripper means whereby suh-- atmospheric pressure maycommunicated to said suction gripper means, a valve mounted for cyclicmovement in said rotor and arranged to open and close said conduit so asto effect, respectively, cohesive engagement of the suction grippermeanswith said bottom sheet of a sig-' nature or release of said suctiongripper means from said bottom sheet, said rotor when the suctiongripper means thereof is in cohesive en" gagement with said bottom sheetof the signature drawing said lowermost signature of the stack bodilyoutwardly, the said bottom sheet there of being directed curvatelydownward about the peripheral portion of the rotor while an upper sheetof the signature is free to move horizontally outwardly from the stackto thus open said signature, a cam cooperative with said valve to openthe latter when said suction gripper means is positioned. substantiallybelow the foremost edge of the lowermost signature of the stack. andv toclose said valve when said suction gripper means and the signature sheetin possession thereof approaches said conveyor means to release saidopened signature. and to permit movement of the latter into straddlingengagement with. said conveyor means, and meansoperativeintermediateopenings and closings of said valve for ventingsaid. suction header.

2. In a gathering machine including. support means for a stack ofmulti-sheet. signatures to be dispensed cutedge foremost in a directionlaterally of the stack and subjacently spaced conveyor means movablepast. and for receiving a file of relatively spaced signatures dispensedfrom saidstack, a cylindriform rotor journaledin axial parallelism withsaid conveyor and having a pcripheral portion disposed in proximity tothe bottom sheet of the lowermost signature of said stack, suctiongripper means in said peripheral portion of the rotor; means forrevolving said rotor in timed relation with movements of said conveyormeans to move said suction gripper means below said lowermost signatureand towardsaid conveyor means, a suction header connected with a sourceof subatmospheric pressure, aconduit interconnecting said suction headerand suction gripper means whereby subatmospheric pressure may becommunicated. to said suction gripper means, a valve mounted for cyclicmovement in said rotor and arranged to open and close said conduit so asto efiect, respectively, cohesive engagement of the suction grippermeans with said. bottom sheet of a signature or release of said suctiongripper means from said bottom sheet, said rotor when the suctiongripper means thereof is in cohesive engagement with said bottom sheetof. the signature drawing said lowermost signature of the stack bodilyoutwardly, the said bottom sheet thereof. beingv directed curvatelydownward about the peripheral. portion of the rotor while an upper sheetof the signature is free to move horizontally outwardly from the stackto thus open said signature, a cam fixed to said support meanscooperative with said valve to open the latter when said suction grippermeans is positioned substantially below the foremost edge of thelowermost signature of the stack andv to close said valve when saidsuction gripper means and the signature sheet in possession thereof.approaches said conveyor means to release said opened signature and topermit movement of they latter into straddling engagement with saidconveyor means, means for moving said support means, the stack ofsignatures carried thereby and said cam unitarily' about the axis ofrotation of said rotor so as to shift the center of gravity of saidstack relative to the lowermost signature, and means operativecyclically with rotations of said rotor and intermediate openings andclosings of said valve for venting said suction header.

3. In a gathering machine including support means for a stack ofmulti-sheet signatures to be dispensed cut edge foremost in a directionlaterally of the stack and subjacently spaced conveyor means movablepast and for receiving a file of relatively spaced signatures from saidstack, a cyl'indriform rotor journaled in axial parallelism with saidconveyor and having a peripheral portion disposed in proximity to thebottom sheet of the lowermost signature of said stack, and furtherhaving at least one groove in said peripheral portion extending acrossthe latter in substantial parallelism with the rotational axis of therotor, said rotor further having therein a suction duct in communicationwith said groove, means for revolving said rotor in timed relation withmovements of said conveyor means to move said rotor peripheral groovebelow said lowermost signature and toward said conveyor means, a suctionheader connected with a source of sub-atmospheric pressure and with saidsuction duct of the rotor for communicat ing sub-atmospheric pressure tothe rotor peripheral groove and for eiiecting adherence of the lowermostsignature of the stack to the peripheral portion of the rotor as thesaid groove thereof is moved under said stack, a valve in said suctionduct operative in. timed relation with movements of said rotor toconnect and disconnect said suction duct with. and from. said suction.header, means normally urging said valve to disconnect said duct andheader, a relief valve in said suction header capable of being opened tovent the suction header to the atmosphere, means interconnecting. saidrotor and relief valve for opening the. latter in timed relation withopenings and closings of said suction duct valve, and,said.lowermostsignature of the stack being carried. by said rotor towardsaid conveyor means and being released to engage the latter 11 uponclosing of said suction duct valve and upon opening of said suctionheader relief valve.

4. In a gathering machine including support means for a verticallyinclinable stack of multisheet signatures to be dispensed cut edgeforcmost in a direction laterally of the stack and subjacently spacedconveyor means movable past said stack for receiving a file ofrelatively spaced signatures dispensed from said stack, a tubular driveshaft journaled on said support means below said stack and insubstantial axial parallelism with the path of movement of said conveyormeans, a cylindriform rotor connected and rotatable with said driveshaft and having a peripheral portion arranged to move in an arcuatepath below said stack in close proximity to the lowermost signaturetherein and toward said conveyor means, said rotor in the peripheralportion thereof having a urface recess extending laterally of saidarcuate path and providing a suction gripper, said rotor further havingtherein a radially-extending suction gripper groove and said tubulardrive shaft, a source of subatmospheric pressure connected with and toevacuate said drive shaft, rotor suction duct and suction gripper groovewhereby when said rotor is moved along said arcuate path adherence ofthe lowermost signature of the stack thereof to the suction gripper willbe effected and the said lowermost signature will be displaced laterallyof the stack and moved toward said conveyor means, a valve in said rotorsuction duct operable to open and close the latter in timed relation tomovements of the rotor so as to efiect, respectively, gripping andreleasing of said lowermost signature by said suction gripper groove,bracket means journaled on said drive shaft and extending therefrom toengage said support whereby said stack may be moved bodily peripherallyabout the axis of said drive shaft so as to select vertical degrees ofinclination of the stack, and means for securing said bracket means in aselected position.

5. In a gathering machine including support means for a verticallyinclinable stack of multisheet signatures to be dispensed cut edgeforemost in a direction laterally of the stack and subjacently spacedconveyor means movable past said stack for receiving a file ofrelatively spaced signatures dispensed from said stack, a tubular driveshaft journaled on said support means below said stack and insubstantial axial parallelism with the path of movement of said conveyormeans, a cylindriform rotor connected and rotatable with said driveshaft and having a peripheral portion arranged to move in an arcuatepath below said stack in close proximity to the lowermost signaturetherein and toward said conveyor means, said rotor in the peripheralportion thereof having a surface recess extending laterally of saidarcuate path and providing a suction gripper, said rotor further havingtherein a radially-extending suction duct interconnecting said suctiongripper groove and said tubular drive shaft, a source of sub-atmosphericpressure connected with and to evacuate said drive shaft, rotor suctionduct and suction gripper groove whereby when said rotor is moved alongsaid arcuate path adherence of the lowermost signature of the stackthereof to the suction gripper will be effected and the said lowermostsignature will be displaced laterally of the stack and moved toward saidconveyor means, a valve in said rotor suction duct operable to open andclose the latter in timed relation to movements of'the rotor so as to'efiectfrespectively, gripping and releasing of said lowermost signatureby said suction gripper groove, bracket means journaled on said driveshaft and extending therefrom to engage said support whereby said stackmay be moved bodily peripherally about the axis of said drive shaft soas to select vertical degrees of inclination of the stack, and a camoperatively connected with said bracket means and said rotor suctionduct valve to' open the latter so as to grip a succeeding lowermostsignature of the stack at a precise point adjacent the foremost cut edgethereof.

6. In a gathering machine including support means for a verticallyinclinable stack of multisheet signatures to be dispensed out edgeforemost in a direction laterally of the stack and subjacently spacedconveyor means movable past said stack for receiving a file ofrelatively spaced signatures dispensed from said stack, a tubular driveshaft journaled on said support means below said stack and insubstantial axial parallelism with the path of movement of said conveyormeans, a cylindriform rotor connected and rotatable with said driveshaft and having a peripheral portion arranged to move in an arcuatepath below said stack in close proximity to the lowermost signaturetherein and toward said conveyor means, said rotor in the peripheralportion thereof having a surface recess extending laterally of saidarcuate path and providing a suction gripper, said rotor further havingtherein a radially-extending suction duct interconnecting said suctiongripper groove and said tubular drive shaft, a source of sub-atmosphericpressure connected with and to evacuate said drive shaft, rotor suctionduct and suction gripper groove whereby when said rotor is moved alongsaid arcuate path adherence of the lowermost signature of the stackthereof to the suction gripper will be eifected and the said lower mostsignature will be displaced laterally of the stack and moved toward saidconveyor means, a valve in said rotor suction duct operable to open andclose the latter in timed relation to movements of the rotor so as toeffect, respectively, gripping and releasing of said lowermost signatureby said suction gripper groove, bracket means journaled on said driveshaft and extending therefrom to engage said support whereby said stackmay be moved bodily peripherally about the axis of said drive shaft soas to select vertical degrees of inclination of the stack, a camoperatively connected with said bracket means and said rotor suctionduct valve to open the latter so as to grip a succeeding lowermostsignature of the stack at a precise point adjacent the foremost cut edgethereof, and means for securing said bracket means in a selectedposition of movement about the axis of said drive shaft so as toselectively vary the degree of vertical inclination of said stack and tovary the relative spacing between said conveyor means and said point atwhich said suction gripper groove grips a signature.

7. In a gathering machine including support means for a verticallyinclinable stack of multisheet signatures to be dispensed cut edgeforemost in a direction laterally of the stack and subjacently spacedconveyor means movable past said stack for receiving a file ofrelatively spaced signatures dispensed from said stack, a tubular driveshaft journaled on said support means below said stack and insubstantial axial parallelism with the path of movement of said'con- 13veyor means, a cylindriform rotor connected and rotatable with saiddrive shaft and av n a D ripheral portion arranged to move in an arcuatepath below said stack in close proximity to the lowermost signaturetherein and toward said conveyor means, said rotor in the peripheralportion thereof having a surface recess extending laterally of saidarcuate path and providing a suction gripper, said rotor further havingtherein a radially-extending suction duct interconnecting said suctiongriper groove and said tubular drive shaft, a source of sub-atmosphericpressure connected With and to evacuate said drive shaft, rotor suctionduct and suction gripper groove whereby when said rotor is moved alongsaid arcuate path adhenence of the lowermost signature of the stackthereof to the suction gripper will be efiected and the said lowermostsignature will be displaced laterally of the stack and moved toward saidconveyor means, a valve in said rotor suction duct operable to open andclose the latter in timed relation to movements of the rotor so as toeffect, respectively, gripping and releasing of said lowermost signatureby said suction gripper groove, drive means for rotating said driveshaft and rotor, and means interconnecting said suction header and drivemeans and operative in the absence of a signature in possession of saidsuction gripper groove as the latter moves between said stack and conveyor means for inactivating said drive means. THEODORE J. DURKSEN.

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